Abstract: The fish scaling system is a device having an elongated body with a first side and a second side and a proximate end and a distal end. The proximate end forms a handle and the distal end has three large circular serrated scrapers on the first side and three small circular serrated scrapers on the second side for removing scales from a fish. The large and small circular scrapers are replaceable when they become worn.

Abstract: A crab cleaner including a base and a wedge blade fixedly disposed atop the base. A rounded apex of the wedge blade is provided for splitting the crab's carapace into right and left halves upon pushing the carapace forward side onto the apex with a quick downward motion.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a method and system for harvesting saddle meat parts from a carcass part of slaughtered poultry, wherein the carcass part initially comprises two legs parts and a saddle, wherein the carcass part further comprises two saddle meat parts.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for humanely dispatching wounded game in the field comprises a shank with a connecting end, a curved region, and a pointed end connected to a grip formed at the connecting end of the shank. The grip includes a front surface, a rear surface and a lip formed along the forward edge of the grip. The apparatus, and specifically the curved region in the shank, is configured to allow the pointed end of the shank to penetrate a target below the target's skull and, upon continued insertion, penetrate the brain/brain stem of the target thereby humanely dispatching the target.

Abstract: An animal hide removal apparatus is provided. The apparatus may have a plurality of pulleys and winches that are associated with cables that are selectively connected to a carcass. Operation of the winches moves the cables in opposite directions to remove the hide from the animal.

Abstract: A variety of compositions and methods for removing hair from animal skin are disclosed. The methods can include heating the skin and applying force to the skin to remove hair. The methods can further include applying an adhesive comprising a wax and a resin to the skin, allowing the adhesive to solidify, and applying force to the adhesive.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a device for separating at least one leg part (1) from a carcass part of slaughtered poultry, wherein the device comprises: —a main conveyor, which main conveyor comprises a plurality of carriers (10), each carrier being adapted to engage a carcass parts by or in the vicinity of the free ends of the leg parts, the main conveyor being provided with a drive for moving the carriers along a path, —a hip dislocator assembly, which is adapted to dislocate the hip joints in such a way that after said dislocation, a tissue connection remains between each leg part and the saddle, and adapted to disengage the leg parts from the carrier of the main conveyor, —a saddle support guide (32), which is adapted for supporting the saddle of the carcass part after the carcass part has become disengaged from the carrier of the main conveyor, —a leg separator (40) comprising two leg grippers (41), each leg gripper comprising a leg gripping slot that is adapted for engaging a leg part, wherein the leg grip

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for left/right determination of the arm part of a pig carcass before it is deboned. A plurality of clampers move around on an endless track. At a suspension station, a work is suspended from each clamper. There are left/right and front/back determination stations where it is determined whether a left-side or right side, and a front-side portion or back-side portion is facing a side irradiated by X-rays. Based on results of the determinations, posture of the work is corrected by a clamper rotating device. At an X-ray imaging station, it is controlled so that the front-side portion of the work faces the side irradiated by the X-rays and a longer side faces a movement direction of the endless track. An X-ray image of the work is obtained to determine a target coordinate of a bone-part surface required for incision making and deboning processes.

Abstract: A method of slaughtering fish comprising the steps of providing an elongated passage, passing fish entrained within a flow of water through said passage, and generating linear electric field in the water along at least a first region of said passage, thereby inducing electro-anaesthesia or stunning of the fish passing through said first region of the passage, and applying a further electric field in the water in a subsequent region of the passage, downstream of said first region, to kill the fish such that the fish exit a downstream end of said passage in a dead state.

Abstract: A skinning machine for separating skin from the tissue of a poultry part is provided, which includes a frame supporting a skin roller comprising bands of teeth and grooves for engaging the skin, a pressure shoe disposed adjacent to the skin roller for removing the skin from the tissue, a pressure roller assembly for biasing the skin and tissue against the skin roller, and a scraper interfacing with the skin roller for removing the skin from the skin roller. The pressure shoe is releasably mounted to the frame allowing removal and cleaning thereof. The pressure roller assembly includes a body that deforms against the poultry part to accommodate parts of varying sizes and thickness without damaging the tissue. The scraper interfaces with the teeth and grooves of the skin roller allowing removal of poultry skin and fat from the roller with little or no need for water.

Abstract: In a method for mechanically removing intermuscular bones, so-called pin bones, from fillet parts of conveyed fish abdominal flaps for each fish are separated using a continuous, curved double separating cut. Each abdominal flap is simultaneously separated into two parallelly cut, completely free-moving parts having fish skin, which are conveyed away separate front one another. The first part is obtained as a narrow, curved pinbone strip, with a width corresponding to the row of pinbones and limited thereto. The second part is obtained as an abdominal flap meat body determined by the largest part of the separated abdominal flap, free of pin bones, with a cutting length having the curvature.

Abstract: A knife includes a body that includes a handle section, a substantially circular blade housing section, and a blade including a cutting edge having substantially the same radius of curvature of the blade housing. The substantially circular blade housing section extends substantially perpendicular from the handle section. The blade extends longitudinally out of the blade housing at a position substantially 180° away from the position of the handle section along the circumference of the blade housing and terminates in a sharp point. The width of the blade at the portion immediately adjacent to the blade housing and opposite the blade point is substantially equal to the diameter of the blade housing.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an apparatus and a corresponding method for non-contact identifying of red tissue structures in products of slaughtered animal bodies, comprising a conveying device for continuous conveyance of the products in a conveying direction, a light source configured to generate a flat light field which is designed and adapted to form a light line running transversely to the conveying direction of the product from the flat light field, a detecting device for identifying the red tissue structures, which comprises at least one optical sensor for recording the portions of light reflected by the product, wherein the light source is configured as an infrared light source and the light source is arranged such that the plane of the flat light field relative to the conveying direction is tilted by a light field angle of less than 90°.

Abstract: A meat tenderizer having a handle; a plurality of spaced apart curved blades; a plurality of cross bars; a right side plate; and a left side plate, the convex edges of the curved blades not being sharpened, the blades attached at each end thereof near one end of the side plates, the handle being attached at each end thereof near the other end of the side plates, the cross bars being attached to and across the concave edges of the blades. In addition, a method for tenderizing a cut of meat by rocking a plurality of curved blades into a cut of meat, the convex edges of the blades not being sharpened, the depth of impression of the blades into the meat being limited by a plurality of cross bars attached to and across the concave edge of the blades so that a portion of the fibers of the meat are severed by the impression of the blades into the meat thereby tenderizing the cut of meat.

Abstract: Peeling apparatus and cam followers for lowering and raising the finger frames of roller-type peeling apparatus. The cam followers have monolithic hardened stainless steel cam rollers with journals extending outward of central wheels into bronze bushings retained stationarily in holders. The monolithic cam rollers roll on pivoting cams at the four corners of the finger frame to raise and lower the finger frame in synchrony with the back and forth rotation of peeling rollers forming peeling channels. Support rollers supporting the ends of the peeling rollers also rotate in stationary bronze bushings.

Abstract: A spreading tool comprises a first arm having a pivot end and an engagement end and a second arm having a pivot end and an engagement end. A connector combines the pivot end of the first arm with the pivot end of the second arm for rotational movement between a closed position and an open position. A handle is combined to the second arm and positioned apart from the connector so that the connector is positioned between the handle and the engagement end of the first arm and the engagement end of the second arm for the entire path of travel between the open and closed positions.

Abstract: An improved fish hanger is provided where the hanger is constructed of, or at least made of, lightweight metal. The fishing hanger has a molded body with a curved bottom end that allows the body to pivot on a flat surface. This curved end of the fish hanger is able to hook a fish in a position that makes the skinning process possible on both sides. The device can be collapsible for ease of transport and storage.

Abstract: An apparatus for carrying out an operation on slaughtered poultry, comprising suspension devices for suspending the poultry by the legs, a first drum which at its periphery is provided with a first curve formed by a first groove which is being traced by a first projection that connects to a first processing organ so as to arrange that movement of the first processing organ along the periphery of the first drum causes said first processing organ to be placed in an operational position with respect to the poultry being suspended by the legs. Further there are second processing device that cooperate with a second drum provided with a second curve formed by a second groove which is being traced by a second projection connected with the second processing device so as to arrange that by its movement along the periphery of the second drum said second processing device is positioned in its operational position with reference to the poultry.

Abstract: A pet calming harness is designed to ease and alleviate an animal's fear and tension due to fright inducing and excitable activities such as thunder, lightning, etc. The therapeutic harness includes a combination neck collar and body strap which converge at an X-strap location above the scruff or nape of the animal's neck to provide gentle, but not binding, pressure on the animal in order to calm the animal.

Abstract: A unitary resilient rubber finger pad for a poultry plucking machine, and a finger pad assembly for such machine, the assembly having: a backing plate with a central aperture adapted for engaging a drive hub of a poultry feather plucking machine; a finger pad having a base with a central mounting aperture, a flat rear face abutting the backing plate and a front face opposite the rear flat face, a plurality of fingers extending from the front; a star washer having a plurality of arcuate recesses on its periphery, each of which engages a base of a finger; and a mounting bolt for attaching said finger pad assembly to a drive shaft having a threaded hole in the end thereof. The method of mounting the finger pad assembly is also disclosed.